Hi guys,I'm having night mares thinking about having to drill holes in 2 tanks in the next few days,I've never done it before or even seen it done apart from youtube, I need to drill 4 holes in 2 tanks for externals to fit as the braces on the tanks go right around the edge. Any advice in what to do and not to do?

It's a very scary thing to do for the first time. I've done it loads of times now, well 20 or 30 times, on small tanks for fry racks and £5 second hand tanks shops have been throwing out. 100% success rate so far but I've still never had the balls to drill a large expensive tank.

You need to keep it cool and the best way to do this is to trickel water over the surface you are cutting through - almost essential in fact. If drilling through the base just put a few millimetres of water in the bottom.

Because of this, always use a cordless drill. Water and electricity is not a good combination. Don't know how much of a kick you'ld get from an cordless drill, might not be pleasant but I'd think much less dangerous than plugging into the mains.

Don't try to start the cut without a guide. Best way is to cut a hole as a template in a piece of plywood, clamp (or tape) this firmly in place and use this as your guide.

Don't force things by pushing down on the drill - just let the weight of the drill do the work and for God's sake check it is not on a hammer setting. Use a slow speed if the drill has speed settings and a low torque if you have torque settings so it doesn't snatch if it jams.

Slow but sure is the key to success.

If you can lay your hands on a piece of old float glass to practise on it will do wonders for your confidence.